Advocacy internships
The short programme offers development of advocacy skills through hands on training and participation usually in a United Nations event. The programme accepts up to four young women per year, who attend either the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York, or the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

One-year programme

This one-year programme based in Geneva, Switzerland provides a host of leadership and skills training opportunities, including participation in UN and NGO events and working groups. The internship varies each year and normally includes programme development, leadership development, advocacy, communications, and financial development. The World YWCA provides a small stipend and modest living arrangements. Joy Yakubu from the YWCA of Nigeria and Leanne Baumung from YWCA Hawaii were selected to spend 2008 working at the World Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

“I applied for the one-year internship for the opportunity to live to Geneva, to work with the United Nations bodies and mechanisms, to expand my knowledge of women's human rights issues and to build my capacity as an advocate. Also, I wanted an understanding of the women's movement from an international vantage point. So far in the internship, I have acquired invaluable new knowledge and professional skills and really stretched my boundaries," says Baumung.

Yakubu believes young women who have an interest in women’s rights should apply for the internship. “There are a thousand things I wouldn’t have known or understood about issues concerning women and girls and the huge amount of work the YWCA movement is doing to empower women and girls if I had not applied for this internship. One learns and gains insight into different things everyday at the World YWCA. The internship programme is a great opportunity to learn not only about women’s issues but also the about frustrations and limitations encountered in the cause. It’s a rare chance to learn, learn and learn,“ says Yakubu.

Women candidates, between ages 22-30, from all national and local YWCAs are encouraged to apply.

Deadline: September 12, 2008

Downloads:

• General Information on One Year Internship ( PDF 20.21 kb)
• General Information on Advocacy Internship 2009 ( PDF 86.59 kb)
• Terms of Reference for Interns ( PDF 89.71KB)
• Cover Letter (PDF II4.75 KB)
• Application Forms for One Year and Short Term Interns (PDF111.88 KB

• Endorsement of National Association ( 73.22 KB)